Improvements in body fluid collection bottle

ABSTRACT

A vacuum operated body fluid collection bottle having an insert container of receptacle which is calibrated to receive accurately measurable, small quantities of body fluid collected within the bottle. Such insert includes overflow means whereby quantities in excess of a predetermined amount can overflow into the interior of the outside container. The insert container, in a preferred form of the invention, is positioned by means of a flange disposed against a shoulder provided within the interior of the bottle. Both outside and interior containers are uniquely calibrated to satisfy a variety of conditions. An anti-splash tube is incorporated and uniquely positioned within the bottle construction and is appropriately spaced from the lid thereof to provide for a free exhaust of air and hence a creation of reduced pressure conditions proximate the liquid inlet of the bottle.

United States Patent Holbrook 5] Oct. 24, 1972 [54] IMPROVEMENTS IN BODY FLUID 1,467,425 9/1923 Delanoy ..7-3/427 x COLLECTION BOTTLE 2,973,646 3/1961 Campbell et a1 ..73/427 [72] Inventor: Holbrook, Salt Lake Primary Examiner Louis R Prince Assistant Examiner-Daniel M. Yasich [73] Assignee: Medical Development Corporation, Att0rney-M. Ralph Shaffer Salt Lake City, Utah [22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1970 [57] ABS CT A vacuum operated body fluid collection bottle having [21] Appl' 85075 an insert container of receptacle which is calibrated to receive accurately measurable, small quantities of 52] US. Cl. ..73/427, 128/2 F, 128/276 y fluid collected within the bottle- Such insert [51] Int. Cl ..G01f 19/00, A61b 5/00 eludes Overflow means whereby quantities in excess of [58] Field of Search ..73/427, 428, 171, 425.6 P, a predetermined amount can Overflow into the interior 73/194, 137/205 582, 575 of the outside container. The insert container, in a 141/59; 128/276 2 F 1 preferred form of the invention, is positioned by means of a flange disposed against a shoulder pro- [56] References Cited vided within the interior of the bottle. Both outside and interior containers are uniquely calibrated to UNITED STATES PATENTS satisfy a variety of conditions. An anti-splash tube is incorporated and uniquely positioned within the bottle s i i 3 2 construction and is appropriately spaced from the lid 2700973 2 195 J an e 0 thereof to provide for a free exhaust of air and hence 5 "128/276 a creation of reduced pressure conditions proximate Hastings the inlet of the bottle 3,001,397 9/1961 Leonard ..137/575 X 2,945,509 7/1960 Tuttle ..l37/576 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 ii I l l l l l l I ll l 4 22 Z4 2| H l l i INVENTOR. LEGRAND K. HOLBROOK HIS ATTORNFY PATENTED um 24 m2 FIG. I

FIG. 3

IMPROVEMENTS IN BODY FLUID COLLECTION BOTTLE The present invention relates to vacuum operated bottles used in hospitals and the like, which bottles are used for collecting body fluid such as blood from a patent during or after surgery. The bottle construction of the present nature is particularly suited for collecting and measuring with a high degree of accuracy, small amounts of aspirated body fluid from all types of patients, and especially infants, where the same is taken during instances of pediatric surgery.

In the past body fluid collection bottles have appeared on the market in a limited number of designs. Those bottle constructions of which the applicant is aware are generally suitable for collecting very large amounts of body fluid such as in connection with abdominal surgery for adult patients. A distinct need is present in the marketplace for providing a bottle that' can either be used to collect large amounts of body fluid, i.e. from 200 cc to 1,000 cc quantities, but also can be used to collect and accurately measure very small amounts of body fluid such as that anticipated during periods of surgery, expecially pediatric surgery. For surgery in connection with infants, it is very important to determine with great care and accuracy the amount of body fluid, e.g. blood, which is taken from a young child; this quantity of fluid must be predetermined and returned in identical amounts as by transfusion or other means. To date no bottle is available, to the applicants knowledge, which is suitable for fine measurement use.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved vacuum operated body fluid collection bottle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved body fluid collection having a selectively removable container insert, such insert being designed to receive small amounts of fluid introduced into the bottle construction.

An additional object is to provide for a body fluid collection bottle an insert comprising a calibrated container and flange, the flange being designed for support by the interior of the bottle construction concerned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle construction having an outside container and an interiorly disposed, selectively removeable inside container, both containers being calibrated such that if only the inside container is used, body fluid collected therein can accurately be measured, whereas if there is overflow, or if the insert is previously removed, then additional accurate respective readings can be taken.

An additional object is to provide a body fluid collection bottle having an anti-splash device useable as an introduction means leading into the fine-measurement portion of the container, and also to prevent blood or other body fluid from foaming at the bottom of the bottle construction, such anti-splash device being spaced from the lid of the bottle construction to provide for reduced pressure conditions at the fluid inlet.

An additional object is to provide a bottle construction having an interior container wherein reduced pressure conditions can be maintained both within and outside of the interior container when disposed within the bottle.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a body fluid collection bottle constructed in accordance with principles of the present invention, and illustrates one embodiment thereof.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the construction shown in FIG. 1, the anti-splash device being illustrated in fragmentary view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the interior container member of the bottle construction in a second embodiment thereof.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the container is provided with an enlarged, cylindrical, upper margin 11 defining an upwardly facing, interior shoulder l2,at transverse offset T. A downwardly facing shoulder S is likewise formed thereby. A bead 13 is likewise provided, which bead snaps into bead recess 14 associated with the lip 15 of lid 16. Lid 16 is provided with fluid inlet port 17 and vacuum port 18, both of which proceed completely through the generally horizontal configuration of the lid so that their opposite extremities appear on opposite sides of the lid, as indicated. The upper extremities of fluid inlet port 17 and vacuum port 18 are tapered in the usual manner to accommodate a pressed or other fitting thereto of fluid inlet conduit 19 and vacuum conduit 20 in the customary manner. Conduit 19 and 20 provide communication by openings 21' and 22 into the interior 23 of container 10.

The lid is designed so as to effect a vacuum seal between the groove surface of groove 14 and the surface of bead 13, so that upon the application of reduced pressure, as by means of a vacuum pump relative to vacuum conduit 20, then an area of reduced pressure will be present inside the container at 23 so as to cause aspirated body fluid to proceed from the operating area of the patient through inlet conduit 19, downwardly through opening 21 into the interior 23 of the container 10. For convenience of illustration, the connection of the vacuum pump to vacuum conduit 20 and also the end fitting fluid inlet conduit 19 at the patients operative area are not shown.

In the absence of the inclusion of an inner member such as inner member 21 or inner member 22 of FIGS. 2 and 3, then the open container graduations 23' will be utilized to rea the amount of fluid collected by the container 10. These graduations, if desired, can be made in increments of 25 cc up to a fluid level of 500 cc, and thereafter in graduation spacings of cc.

Accordingly, in the absence of the inclusion of inner member 21 or 22, seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, within the container 10 of FIG. 10, then a vacuum produced via vacuum conduit 20 will cause aspirated body fluid to proceed up the inlet fluid conduit 19 from the patient area and advance through the lid 16 into the interior 23 of container 10. Special note is to be made that in a highly preferred form of the invention, there will be included a very thin-walled, flexible plastic casing or tube 24 through which the body fluid proceeds. This is to prevent a foaming of body fluid at the bottom area of the container, so as to facilitate correct reading of the contents of the container at all times during the operation period. Casing 24 is accommodated as to placement by prongs and 26, see FIG. 2, which prongs include integral spacer bosses 27 and 28. The purpose for these spacer bosses is to delimit the upward advance of casing 24, so that a space 29 is maintained over the column of fluid rising upwardly in casing 24. This preserves the evacuated condition proximate the end of opening 21 relative to fluid inlet port 17 so as to insure proper operation of the device, including the precluding of siphoning-back to the patient area.

As to a preferred construction a heat weld may be performed at one or all of the prongs 25, 26 and fluid inlet port 27 to ensure that the casing 24 retains its spacing (29) from the lid and serves as an anti-splash element.

In certain types of operation procedures, and especially for pediatric work, there is required an exact measurement of body fluid withdraw from the infant patient, even though such fluids may be in very small amounts. For this purpose the inner member 21 is provided. The same includes inner container 30 provided with pediatric or fine graduations 31. These are preferably of the order of from 5 cc to 200 cc, in 5 cc increments.

The inner container 30 of inner member 21 (in FIG. 2) is shown to be provided with an overflow aperture 32. The overflow aperture may take the form of a slit, as seen in FIG. 2, the bottom 33 of which is aligned with the 200 cc marking at 34. Accordingly, any blood or body fluid proceeding upwardly will immediately spill over the bottom edge 33 into the area outside of inner container 30 but yet within the over-all container To complete the inner container construction, there may be provided the graduated cylinder 35 a bottom disk 36 cemented to the same, or otherwise made integral therewith, so as to provide a bottom-enclosed container.

The inner member 21 also preferably includes an upper portion, here a flange 37 preferably provided with thumb-and-finger apertures 38 and also, insertalignment, keying notches A registering with outer container protrusions B, and, in addition, access aperture 39 to accommodate selective insertion therethrough of the lower portion 40 of vacuum port 18. In the event that the depending portion 40 of vacuum port 18 Is not unduly long relative to the spacing of the upper flange from the lid, then the access opening 39 may not be needed since air can be exhausted through the thumband-finger apertures.

As to construction (see FIG. 2) the inner container 30 is merely pressed into annular opening 41. Optionally, the same may be glued into place, of course, or the entire unit may be molded as an integral part, relative to inner member 21.

An alternate form of an inner member 21 is shown in FIG. 3 wherein the inner member 22 is at this time provided with an inner container 43, similar to inner container 30 in FIG. 2. Inner container 43 is closed at the bottom either by an independent disk 36 or otherwise,

and at its upper extremity 44 the same includes a plurality of indentations 45 which are mutually spaced as indicated. correspondingly, a flange 46 is provided with the thumb-and-finger apertures 47, access opeing 48, and press-fit aperture 41' corresponding to apertures 38, 39, and 41 in FIG. 2. In the FIG. 3 embodiment the flange 46 likewise includes mutually spaced openings 49-51 which serve as overflow openingsrelative to body fluid proceeding upwardly relative to the container so as to spill over the edges E forming indentations 45, through the openings 49-51 into the interior 23 of the over-all large container 10.

When an inner member is disposed within the container 10, then, in a preferred form of the invention the flange 37 will rest about its outer lower margin 52, see FIG. 1, upon the upwardly facing interior shoulder 12 of container 10. Accordingly, body fluid entering fluid inlet conduit 19 and being drawn upwardly by virtue of the reduced pressure area at 23, as before explained, will proceed down fluid inlet port 17 and through casing 24 into the lower portion of inner container 30 of inner member 21. Fluid will rise in inner container 30, both interiorly and exteriorly of the casing 24, proceeding upwardly until either the flow of fluid up inlet conduit 19 stops, through cessation of the operation, or until the body fluid spills-over either aperture base 33 (see FIG. 2) or spills over the upper edges E and the indentations 45 in FIG. 3.

It will be seen that for small withdrawals of body fluid there will be present a very accurate measurement of the body fluid within inner container 30, or inner container 43 in FIG. 3. This will be especially desirable for pediatric use where, as it is seen, a general container may accommodate the insert, e.g. inner member 21, to provide for very accurate measurements of small quantities of blood or other body fluid.

Note is to be made relative to FIG. 2 that a reduced pressure area is present at the discharge end of fluid inlet 17 by virtue of either thumb-and-flnger apertures 38, access opening 39, or both. The same likewise applies relative to FIG. 3 embodiment as to inner member In the event that the supply of body fluid withdrawn exceeds the capacity of inner container 30 relative to FIG. 2, then the blood or body fluid will spill over aperture base 33 to rise within the general over-all container 10, at the inner area thereof exterior of inner container 30. Accordingly, overflow graduations 55 may be supplied on the exterior or even interior of the side wall surface of container 10 in FIG. 2 so that one may know the total body fluid withdrawn, i.e. the body fluid contained in inner container 30 plus the overflow fluid residing in container 10 exterior of container 30. The same will likewise apply relative to the insert or inner member 22 of FIG. 3.

When the insert or inner member is withdrawn, then the general, open container graduations 23' will be used to measure accurately the blood or body fluid contained in the container.

It is thus seen that the container of the present invention with its accompanying insert or inner member, is very versatile in use for afiording both reception and also accurate measurement of very small or even relatively large collections of blood or other body fluid from a patient. In the insert the construction supplies a means for ascertaining an accurate reading of body fluid in pediatric quantities, whereas the two sets of graduations 23' and 55 of the outer container 10 provide for both open container fluid measurement and also an insert-provided container as to measurement for overflow conditions.

All parts described herein are preferably made of a transparent plastic such as polyethylene, so that visual readings of fluid levels can be made.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects.

I claim:

1. A body fluid collection bottle including, in combination, an outer container having an annular, inner, upwardly facing shoulder, a lid releasably secured to said outer container and having a vacuum port and also a fluid inlet port communicating with the interior of said outer container, and an insert withdrawably disposed within said outer container and comprising an upper portion seated upon and supported by said annular shoulder and a calibrated inner container positioned beneath said inlet port and having upwardly disposed aperture means permitting overflow therefrom to spill into the interior of said outer'container outside of said inner container, said inner and outer containers being transparent such as to permit volumetric reading of contents of said inner container from a position exterior to said outer container.

2. The collection bottle of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said insert comprises a horizontal flange integral with said inner container and removeably disposed upon said shoulder.

3. The collection bottle of claim 1 wherein said inner container is vertically calibrated in chosen increments to a predetermined, maximum, volume, said insert being so provided with said aperture means whereby to permit inlet fluid exceeding such maximum volume to spill over from said inner container and drop to the interior of said outer container exterior of said inner containerv 4. The collection bottle of claim 1 wherein first, second, and third sets of calibration indicia are pro vided, said first set being vertically disposed upon said inner container, said second and third sets being vertically disposed upon said outer container, said first set being designed to measure desired volume increments of fluid contained at any instant by said inner container, said second and third sets, relative to said outer container, being constructed and arranged such that said second and third sets of indicia respectively measure the volume of overflow liquid that has overflowed from said inner container down into said outer container plus the volume of liquid within said inner container, when said inner container is disposed within said outer container, and the volume received by said outer container when said insert is removed from said outer container, respectively.

5. A body fluid collection bottle including, in combination, an outer container, a lid releasably secured to said outer container and having a vacuum port and also a fluid inlet port communicating with the interior of said outer container, and an insert withdrawably disposed within said outer container and comprising a calibrated inner container positioned beneath said inlet port and having upwardly disposed aperture means permitting over-flow therefrom to spill into the interior of said outer container out side of said inner container, said inner and outer containers being transparent such inner-container v as to permit volumetric reading of contents of said inner container from a position exterior to said outer container, and wherein said insert also includes a flange having a central aperture and mutually spaced spill openings as said aperture means contiguous with said central aperture, said inner container having an upper edge secured to said flange at said central aperture and provided with mutually-spaced indentations, said indentations being aligned with and being in correspondence with said spill openings.

6. A body fluid collection bottle including, in combination, an outer container, a lid releasably secured to said outer container and having a vacuum port and also a fluid inlet port communicating with the interior of said outer container, and an insert withdrawably disposed within said outer container and comprising a calibrated inner container positioned beneath said inlet port and having upwardly disposed aperture means permitting overflow therefrom to spill into the interior of said outer container outside of said inner container, said inner and outer containers being transparent such as to permit volumetric reading of contents of said inner container from a position exterior to said outer container, and wherein said insert includes a flange integral with said inner container and having an opening disposed in communication therewith, said insert including said aperture means for permitting .overflow from said inner container when fluid therein reaches a predetermined maximum, said flange including thumband-finger apertures to facilitate removal of said insert from said outer container.

7. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said flange includes an access opening constructed for aligned disposition with respect to said vacuum port of said lid.

8. A body fluid collection bottle including, in combination, an outer container, a lid secured to said container and having a vacuum port and also an aspiration fluid inlet port communicating with the interior of said container, and an insert withdrawably disposed within and keyed, for inlet port positioning relative thereto, to said outer container and comprising a calibrated inner container positioned beneath said aspiration fluid inlet port and constructed to permit overflow therefrom to spill into the interior of said outer container outside of said inner container, said inner and outer containers being transparent such as to permit volumetric reading of contents of said inner container from a position exterior to said outside container.

9. A body fluid collection bottle including, in combination, an outer container having a medial transverse wall section offset defining upper and lower, respectively inner and outer, respectively upwardly and downwardly facing, concentric annular shoulders, a lid releasably secured to said container and having a vacuum port and also an aspiration fluid inlet port communicating with the interior of said container, and an insert withdrawably disposed within said container and comprising an upper portion seated upon and supported by said upwardly facing annular shoulder and a calibrated inner container integral with said upper portion and disposed beneathsaid aspiration inlet port and having upwardly disposed aperture means permitting overflow therefrom to spill into the interior of said outer container outside of said inner container, said inner and outer containers being transparent such as to permit volumetric reading of contents of said inner container from a position exterior to said outer container. 

1. A body fluid collection bottle including, in combination, an outer container having an annular, inner, upwardly facing shoulder, a lid releasably secured to said outer container and having a vacuum port and also a fluid inlet port communicating with the interior of said outer container, and an insert withdrawably disposed within said outer container and comprising an upper portion seated upon and supporTed by said annular shoulder and a calibrated inner container positioned beneath said inlet port and having upwardly disposed aperture means permitting overflow therefrom to spill into the interior of said outer container outside of said inner container, said inner and outer containers being transparent such as to permit volumetric reading of contents of said inner container from a position exterior to said outer container.
 2. The collection bottle of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said insert comprises a horizontal flange integral with said inner container and removeably disposed upon said shoulder.
 3. The collection bottle of claim 1 wherein said inner container is vertically calibrated in chosen increments to a predetermined, maximum, inner-container volume, said insert being so provided with said aperture means whereby to permit inlet fluid exceeding such maximum volume to spill over from said inner container and drop to the interior of said outer container exterior of said inner container.
 4. The collection bottle of claim 1 wherein first, second, and third sets of calibration indicia are provided, said first set being vertically disposed upon said inner container, said second and third sets being vertically disposed upon said outer container, said first set being designed to measure desired volume increments of fluid contained at any instant by said inner container, said second and third sets, relative to said outer container, being constructed and arranged such that said second and third sets of indicia respectively measure the volume of overflow liquid that has overflowed from said inner container down into said outer container plus the volume of liquid within said inner container, when said inner container is disposed within said outer container, and the volume received by said outer container when said insert is removed from said outer container, respectively.
 5. A body fluid collection bottle including, in combination, an outer container, a lid releasably secured to said outer container and having a vacuum port and also a fluid inlet port communicating with the interior of said outer container, and an insert withdrawably disposed within said outer container and comprising a calibrated inner container positioned beneath said inlet port and having upwardly disposed aperture means permitting over-flow therefrom to spill into the interior of said outer container out side of said inner container, said inner and outer containers being transparent such as to permit volumetric reading of contents of said inner container from a position exterior to said outer container, and wherein said insert also includes a flange having a central aperture and mutually spaced spill openings as said aperture means contiguous with said central aperture, said inner container having an upper edge secured to said flange at said central aperture and provided with mutually-spaced indentations, said indentations being aligned with and being in correspondence with said spill openings.
 6. A body fluid collection bottle including, in combination, an outer container, a lid releasably secured to said outer container and having a vacuum port and also a fluid inlet port communicating with the interior of said outer container, and an insert withdrawably disposed within said outer container and comprising a calibrated inner container positioned beneath said inlet port and having upwardly disposed aperture means permitting overflow therefrom to spill into the interior of said outer container outside of said inner container, said inner and outer containers being transparent such as to permit volumetric reading of contents of said inner container from a position exterior to said outer container, and wherein said insert includes a flange integral with said inner container and having an opening disposed in communication therewith, said insert including said aperture means for permitting overflow from said inner container when fluid therein reaches a predetermined maximum, said flange including Thumb-and-finger apertures to facilitate removal of said insert from said outer container.
 7. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said flange includes an access opening constructed for aligned disposition with respect to said vacuum port of said lid.
 8. A body fluid collection bottle including, in combination, an outer container, a lid secured to said container and having a vacuum port and also an aspiration fluid inlet port communicating with the interior of said container, and an insert withdrawably disposed within and keyed, for inlet port positioning relative thereto, to said outer container and comprising a calibrated inner container positioned beneath said aspiration fluid inlet port and constructed to permit overflow therefrom to spill into the interior of said outer container outside of said inner container, said inner and outer containers being transparent such as to permit volumetric reading of contents of said inner container from a position exterior to said outside container.
 9. A body fluid collection bottle including, in combination, an outer container having a medial transverse wall section offset defining upper and lower, respectively inner and outer, respectively upwardly and downwardly facing, concentric annular shoulders, a lid releasably secured to said container and having a vacuum port and also an aspiration fluid inlet port communicating with the interior of said container, and an insert withdrawably disposed within said container and comprising an upper portion seated upon and supported by said upwardly facing annular shoulder and a calibrated inner container integral with said upper portion and disposed beneath said aspiration inlet port and having upwardly disposed aperture means permitting overflow therefrom to spill into the interior of said outer container outside of said inner container, said inner and outer containers being transparent such as to permit volumetric reading of contents of said inner container from a position exterior to said outer container. 